Politics

In 2007, government leaders and champions of female participation in political life in Yemen invited Bridges to help them in the design of training and mentoring programs to support female leaders in politics. Several training options were explored, and a recommended program was presented. This program combined three strategies: a collegial leadership program, a public lecture series and an international conference.

• Collegial leadership training program would focus on identified training needs and input from women within various political parties – women who have similar responsibilities.
• Public lecture series would feature well-known, female political leaders from Yemen and abroad to give public lectures. As well, each speaker would share her experiences and insights in a seminar with the collegial leadership groups.
• International conference – on an annual basis, an international conference centered on the topic of Women in Political Leadership would be organized. Invitees could include women in the collegial groups, women in political leadership in Yemen and other regional participants.

Regrettably, the political situation in Yemen grew increasingly volatile in 2008-2009, and local support for advancing a quota for females in politics was temporarily paused. When the time is right, Bridges is positioned to continue this work, and not only in Yemen, but wherever the need is presented.